Ethernet physical layer transceiver with graceful temperature protection

Abstract

A Physical Layer (PHY) transceiver includes communication circuitry and a controller. The communication circuitry includes a digital filter, and is configured to communicate signals using the digital filter over a network link. The controller is configured to monitor a temperature pertaining to the communication circuitry, and, in response to detecting an actual or predicted over-temperature condition, to degrade a functionality of the digital filter so as to reduce power dissipation in the communication circuitry.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A Physical Layer (PHY) transceiver, comprising:
 communication circuitry comprising a digital filter, the communication circuitry configured to communicate signals, using the digital filter, over a network link; and 
 a controller configured to monitor a temperature pertaining to the communication circuitry, and, in response to detecting an actual or predicted over-temperature condition, to degrade a functionality of the digital filter so as to reduce power dissipation in the communication circuitry. 
 
     
     
       2. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital filter is adaptive, and wherein the controller is configured to degrade the functionality by freezing or slowing-down adaptation of the digital filter. 
     
     
       3. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital filter comprises a plurality of taps, and wherein the controller is configured to degrade the functionality by zeroing one or more of the taps. 
     
     
       4. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the digital filter is divided into two or more filter segments, and wherein the controller is configured to degrade the functionality by deactivating one or more of the filter segments. 
     
     
       5. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to reduce the power dissipation by reducing a clock speed of at least part of the communication circuitry. 
     
     
       6. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry further comprises an Error Correction Code (ECC) decoder, and wherein the controller is further configured to reduce the power dissipation by degrading the functionality of the ECC decoder. 
     
     
       7. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry further comprises an analog front end (AFE), and wherein the controller is further configured to reduce the power dissipation by limiting a power provided to the AFE. 
     
     
       8. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect an actual or predicted over-temperature condition, by detecting that the monitored temperature exceeds or is expected to exceed a temperature threshold. 
     
     
       9. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the actual or predicted over-temperature condition, by detecting that the monitored temperature exceeds or will exceed a temperature threshold at a future point in time. 
     
     
       10. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the predicted over-temperature condition by:
 calculating a slope of the temperature; and 
 predicting, based on the monitored temperature and the calculated temperature slope, that the over-temperature condition will occur at a future point in time. 
 
     
     
       11. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the predicted over-temperature condition, by:
 monitoring the temperature at a plurality of points in time; and 
 predicting that the temperature will exceed a temperature threshold at a future point in time. 
 
     
     
       12. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the predicted over-temperature condition by applying a Machine Learning (ML) model at least to the monitored temperature. 
     
     
       13. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the actual or predicted over-temperature condition, by evaluating that an over-heating threshold has been exceeded or forecasting, based on a history of temperature measurements, that an overheating threshold will be exceeded. 
     
     
       14. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to revert back to normal functionality of the digital filter upon detecting that the communication circuitry meets a temperature-renormalization condition. 
     
     
       15. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein, in response to violation of the over-temperature condition, the controller is configured to issue a warning indicating that the functionality of the digital filter is degraded. 
     
     
       16. The PHY transceiver according to  claim 1 , wherein the PHY transceiver is part of a communication network in a vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to degrade the functionality based on an expected impact of the degraded functionality on safety of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A method for operating a Physical Layer (PHY) transceiver that includes a digital filter, the method comprising:
 communicating signals using the digital filter over a network link; 
 monitoring a temperature pertaining to the PHY transceiver; and 
 in response to detecting an actual or predicted over-temperature condition, degrading a functionality of the digital filter so as to reduce power dissipation in the PHY transceiver. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein degrading the functionality comprises one or more of;
 freezing or slowing-down adaptation of the digital filter; 
 zeroing one or more taps of the digital filter; and 
 deactivating one or more of filter segments of the digital filter. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein degrading the functionality comprises one or more of;
 reducing a clock speed of at least part of the PHY transceiver; 
 degrading the functionality of an Error Correction Code (ECC) decoder in the PHY transceiver; and 
 limiting a power provided to an analog front end (AFE) in the PHY transceiver. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the PHY transceiver is part of a communication network in a vehicle, and wherein degrading the functionality is performed based on an expected impact of the degraded functionality on safety of the vehicle.